Woman defies chronic illness to take on marathon

A woman with fibromyalgia and ME is preparing to run a virtual version of the London Marathon to raise money for a local hospice.

Helen Ilett from Oswestry said: "I couldn't do anything really a couple of years ago. But then I just got out walking, at first it was a mile at a time, then two miles and it grew and grew."

After completing a number of 10km runs and a half marathon in 2025 she said she wanted to mark her 50th birthday this year with the marathon.

She will do the run to support Hope House, because it has supported children belonging to a number of her friends.

Ilett said she had been inactive for a long time, but in the last two years she had overcome some of the issues and started walking.

"I think I'd struggle to get to London and complete the actual race," she said.

"But my friend Kelly said why didn't I consider the London Marathon My Way for Hope House."

She hopes to complete the challenge on 26 April in nine hours.

As well as knowing friends who needed the help of Hope House, she said her own family also came close.

"When my daughter Chloe was born there was a very real chance that we would have needed Hope House," she said.

"We didn't in the end, but I can't tell you how much it meant to know that should we have needed support that Hope House was here for us."

People wanting to attempt the virtual London Marathon My Way are given 24 hours to complete the distance, in sections or in one go.

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